The Alpha’s Rose

As I packed my Mac book and camera away into my duffle bag I could feel the excitement bubbling in my stomach. Today was the day I moved into the City with my best friend Jennifer to start our journey at college. I would be sad to leave my mum and brother Jaxon behind but I was only a half an hour drive away so they could come visit me any time! Since the death of my father I wanted nothing more than to live a normal teenage life, not the life of a pack warrior that was destined to me. My father was the Alphas chief warrior and the strongest fighter we had – besides from the Alpha and his son. My brother was also a brilliant fighter but spent most of his time with his best friend and soon to be Alpha Nate, training to be his second in command and Beta. For the past 2 years Jaxon and Nate have been away a lot at other packs training so it’s been intense for him. As his Beta training took over, I excelled in my warrior training, channelling all my grief into it and was now ranked the top of the pack much to some of the men and younger boys despair! But I was definitely my father’s daughter and his skills had passed down our bloodline strongly. The Alpha wanted me to be the next pack Chief Warrior but all I wanted was to live a normal life - go to college, get a job, fall in love! So I politely declined the numerous times it was brought up, and even though he was upset I didn’t want the role, he said he understood my need for escape after my father’s death. I could smell pancakes and eggs wafting up the stairs, Mum had promised a spectacular leaving breakfast this morning before her and Jax took me to my new apartment with Jenny. As I walked downstairs I could hear the radio playing and the pancakes cooking on the stove. Jaxon was laughing away talking to someone but I couldn’t hear anyone responding. I stood in the doorway of the kitchen taking in my family on my final morning at home. “Yeah sure I will Nate. Hey sorry got to go Ali is here” he puts the phone down with a massive grin on his face “ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU!” “ Okay Okay you can stop now Jax!” I laugh “It’s your 18th Birthday a small chorus of Happy Birthday is a must!” he chuckles back at me. He stands up and gives me a big bear hug spinning me round. “Happy Birthday little sis”. “Thanks Jax.” I reply shyly. “Put your sister down please Jaxon, it’s my turn.” My mum says rushing over to us both and grabbing us both in a hug. We laugh as she sways us from side to side quickly and she lets out a big sigh, “My babies are all grown up now! Jax nearly ready to be the Beta of the pack and my baby Alice 18 and off to college.” She playfully sobs. Both me and Jax roll our eyes and laugh at mums terrible attempt of acting. “That’s enough PDA for now guys, where’s this special breakfast I was promised?” I ask. “Breakfast is served my love!” Mum gestures to a chair next to Jaxon. I take my place and have a sip of the orange juice in front of me while Jaxon pours me a coffee. His phone pings distracting him for a second. “Who’s that your girlfriend?” I torment. “Ha Ha you know I haven’t found my mate Ali. It’s just Nate, he’s home today for good now and ready for the full moon bonfire tonight.” “Wow home for good does that mean your both ready to take over from Alpha Sam?” I question. “Not quite but it can’t be far off, Nate’s taken to being an Alpha like a duck to water, he’s a natural. But his Dad wants to let him take over gradually so he can guide us still.” He takes a sip of his coffee while Mum puts down various plates filled with bacon, eggs and toast. “Makes sense,” I reply, “Least then when you mess up the Alpha can clean up after you.” I laugh. Jaxon throws a napkin at me as Mum puts down the last of the feast, a plate each with a stack of pancakes. On the table she’s laid out strawberries, raspberries, syrup and chocolate spread, along with the bacon eggs and toast. There’s enough food to feed a family of 5 but seen as we are werewolves this could be inhaled just by Jaxon alone. We start eating my final breakfast at home and chat about what I’m looking forward to the most living on my own and starting college. “Do you think you’ll find your mate at College Alice?” My mum asks “Mum!” I exclaim, “You know that’s not anywhere near the top of my list of things to do. I have no interest in finding my mate right now, I want to live a little.” I say. “I know I know, I just can’t help but wonder. It would be nice to know you have someone there who loves you as much as me and your Dad loved each other.” The mention of him makes my stomach ache slightly with sadness, “And I would know you’d always be safe if your mate was there too.” “Mum, I’m more than sure Ali can look after herself. She doesn’t need anyone to look after her, she’s the best fighter the packs ever seen.” Jaxon saves me. “I know but the thought of my baby girl having to save herself from anyone makes me so mad, a mate would be able to look out for her while we aren’t there Jaxon.” “Mum,” I say grabbing her hand across the table, “I’m going to be just fine. I’m only half an hour away, and I have Jenny with me too, there’s nothing for you to worry about.” I squeeze her hand gently and smile at her. God I loved the bones off this women, she has been our everything since Dad died. “Speaking of Jenny I said we would pick her up in half an hour so we better get moving.” Me and Mum go upstairs and start grabbing boxes to take down to the car, Jaxon is outside waiting for us opening up the boot. We place them down and head back inside and repeat until there’s just my duffle bag left. As I throw the strap over my shoulder I look around my room, the past 2 years I have cooped myself up in here on many occasions and cried until I had nothing left. I needed this change, I needed to come out of this routine and the pressure of the pack and just find me. Heading down the stairs I take one last look around my family home, this is it I can finally be free and independent. Jaxon drives my Mum’s car with all my boxes in heading straight for the apartment and I drive my own car to pick up Jenny. She has a final hug off her parents and runs to the car. “OMG I can’t believe today is finally here!” She exclaims excitedly. “I know! Let’s go see our new home.” I smile at her as she jumps in the car. We pull up at the apartment block and Mum’s car is there with the boot open and a couple of boxes in the boot still, me and Jenny grab one each and head upstairs. Were on the second floor of the small block, it only has around 10 apartments in total but is in a brilliant position for college and the town. Jenny opens up our door and shoves it open with her back holding the box in front of her. “Are you ready?” She smiles at me as she back into our apartment. “Absolutely.” I reply. Jenny spins round and stops dead where she is. I come from behind her and take in my new home. It has a large living room with an open archway into the kitchen. Our U shaped sofa sits in front of the TV on the wall with a glass fire place underneath it. From the back of the sofa you can see straight into the kitchen which is all white with a white marble effect work top. All our accessories sit on the worktop which me and Jenny have been picking out for months. We went for all white and gold with the kettle, microwave and toaster. I walk in and pop my box onto the workspace which wraps around making a breakfast bar with the bar stools underneath. I hear mum shouting Jaxon from down the corridor which holds the bedrooms and bathroom, but she gets no response from him. Wondering where he is I turn around to see him stood at the end of the corridor staring at the door, where Jennifer is still stood, starring straight back at him. As I approach them both my eyebrows knit together wondering why they are stood as still as statues just looking at one an another. They’ve seen each other a million times before. I mean I know Jaxon has been away a lot over the past 2 years with Beta training and Jennifer hasn’t seen him for maybe 6 months, but he hasn’t changed that much. Maybe he got a little broader, has a more defined figure from all the training but he was still just Jaxon. “Are you guys okay?” I question but no one responds, “Jenny? What’s the matter with you?” I say a little panicked now. “Mate.” I heard Jaxon say from my right, I whipped my head towards him. “What?” I say a little louder than I meant to “Mate.” Jennifer said as she tipped her head to the side and smiled shyly. Jaxon walked slowly towards her and reached his hand up to her cheek and cupped her face gently, they both inhaled as his skin touched hers. Jennifer held his wrist as she smiled an award winning smile at him. “Hi Jax” she said quietly. “Hey Jen” he replied just as quietly. As he took another step forward to close the distance between them I opened my mouth, “Hello!” I said loudly making them both jump and turn to look at me, “Can you please not start making out while I’m still in the room. You are still my brother after all and that’s just gross!” They both giggle as Jaxon winds his fingers through Jenny’s, she looks down as he does and then back up at him. Jaxon still looks straight ahead at me. “Ali are you ok?” He asks. And I know he isn’t asking if I’m actually ok, he means am I okay with him and Jenny being mates. “Well I can’t say that it isn’t unexpected, but I love you both separately so together is just a bonus. But just keep your tongues from down each other’s throats while I’m still in the room please.” I joke. Jenny beams at me and then looks at Jaxon who this time is already looking at her, the love in his eyes already makes my stomach flip. I head down towards my room as my Mum comes out of the door. “I’ve shouted Jaxon 3 times now is he deaf or something?” She says a little flustered. “Not deaf but he has just found his mate, so he’s a little preoccupied at the moment.” I say standing to the side knowing Mum is going to freak. She lets out the strangest high pitched screech and starts running towards where I just left Jaxon and Jenny, I roll my eyes laugh and head into my bedroom. It’s al’ set up and ready for me. A king-size bed sits facing a floor to ceiling window with white wardrobes along the back wall. A door in the corner to my left leads into my en-suit. Mum has made my bed up and decorated it with small artificial plants on the end of shelves and a large vase in the corner. The walls are a deep grey with all the furniture being white, and Mum has put on some charcoal bedding and scattered different material and silver colours cushions along my bed. It’s cosy and relaxing just what I wanted. This is it, my own place, my own room. All I needed to do now was survive the pack bonfire and my new life would begin!